The first day of school rolled around, Doyeon still hadn't reached out to Jaemin during the last week off. She figured putting it off for a week wouldn't be too horrid...maybe that was just because she was intimidated by the prospect of actually putting herself out there. As bad as it might sound, she wasn't sure if she could do it. Yes, friendship is a two way street, but just because she knows that...it doesn't mean she can just suddenly change from how she'd acted towards him for the past year. How do people open up to others so easily? She sees people like Jaemin and just doesn't understand--she doesn't understand how he can show so much of himself, and give just as much. It's not just him, it's all of his friends. His friends would be another obstacle, if she allowed herself to become closer to Jaemin, would she do the same with all of the others? How much could she give? And will what she gives be enough to keep a friendship afloat? Or will she lose them too? 

Doyeon's hand shot up to her hair, she tugged on a strand, trying to take her mind off the dozens of thoughts racing through her head. The building in front of her was even more daunting than before, just because it meant she couldn't hide away anymore. She had to finally put her thoughts into action. And if she can't...she'll have to prepare herself for whatever outcome that might bring along. 

She hesitated walking up the steps for a millisecond, but she pushed the feeling of  unease away as she began the upward climb. The sudden feeling of an arm slinging around her shoulder made her grunt. Before she had time to recuperate, another hand was grabbing hold of her arm. Doyeon's head whipped to the side, Jeno smiled at her, his arm flung around her shoulder in a friendly manner. She turned her head to her other side, Chenle had hooked his arm with hers in the time she'd been looking at Jeno. The shock on Doyeon's face must have been amusing, because both boys laughed at her. "Did we surprise you?" Jeno asked, his smile reaching his eyes. In her opinion, nobody should be this happy on the first day of school. But, despite herself, a warm smile spread on her lips. Mark had jogged up beside them, saying something about how the two boys had run off. This year was already starting so much different than the year before. She had friends beside her that she was beginning to warm up to on a level she never thought she would...but something was still sticking out like a sore thumb; that something was a certain boy who was missing. Jaemin hadn't made an appearance today, but neither have the other boys. Her goal came back into her mind: Open up a bit, not too much...just enough...that's my goal for this year.

~~

Class rooms changed this year, meaning her classmates changed as well. Doyeon walked up to the door that had the sign 3-4 above it. "Are you going to open the door, or should I?" Jeno asked teasingly, he could see how anxious she was for a new year. Luckily, they were both placed in the same class this year--it wasn't just them, Jaemin, Jisung, and Chenle were also with them. Mark had sadly been placed in a different class. He didn't seem too distraught about it, since he had both Haechan and Renjun in his class--class 3-2. 
Doyeon gestured for Jeno to go ahead, she wasn't in any rush. He chuckled before sliding the door open. The teacher was already inside, instructing people on where to sit. The teacher looked at the both of them. 

"You two can take a seat there." He pointed to a set of desks near the back, closest to the windows--much to Doyeon's liking--they both took their seats, Doyeon in the middle and Jeno to the right of her; which left the seat to her left open. 

Jeno looked around the room, noting that Chenle and Jisung were seated together a few desks away. "Now I won't have to walk up to you after classes." He chuckled. He'd made it a habit to walk over to hers and the other two boys' desk the year before. Doyeon nodded, her lip twitching up in a small amused smile. 

"Yeah." She said, trying her best to pay attention to him, instead of her thoughts. 

Jeno's eyebrows furrowed. He wasn't sure if it was just him imagining it, but she seemed different in a way. "Is something wrong?" He asked, leaning down so he could see what expression she was wearing. Always. Doyeon bit back those words. 

"Why do you ask?" She questioned instead, her leg bouncing up and down under the desk. 

"Because you seem more...attentive, and stressed out." It was an interesting combination,